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Bears Request HC Interview With Packers’ Adam Stenavich

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The Bears’ head coaching candidate list is moving toward 20 names. One of those — Mike Vrabel — is out of the mix, but another (Mike McCarthy) could be back in after the latter’s separation with the Cowboys. A new name is also in the mix.

An intra-divisional request went out Monday, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reporting the Bears want to speak with Packers OC Adam Stenavich about their HC job. Because this is a request for a head coaching position, the Packers cannot block it. Stenavich joins a crowded field for the Chicago job.

Stenavich, 41, has been the Packers’ OC since 2022. That offseason featured the team promote its offensive line coach rather than lose him to the Broncos, as then-Denver HC Nathaniel Hackett wanted to bring him along with a promotion. That turned out to be a pivotal interview block, given what happened with Hackett in Denver. While Matt LaFleur has called plays throughout his Green Bay tenure, Stenavich has been a key part of the team’s transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love.

This is Stenavich’s first HC interview request; it would stand to reason he will honor it and meet with Bears brass soon. The Packers have not seen Love morph into a superstar at the pace Rodgers did, but the talented passer is 2-for-2 in playoff berths as a starter. While Love still has work to do, the Packers have done well to groom a promising cast of wide receivers. They regularly used four rookie-contract cogs — Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks — this season, and Tucker Kraft also blossomed into a quality tight end during his second year.

The Packers became the rare team with four 600-plus-yard receivers this season, and the team climbed to eighth in points and fifth in yardage during their 11-6 campaign — one that ended with Love having none of his top three wideouts still standing. Stenavich having never called plays could make him a dark-horse candidate, as bigger names are on Chicago’s interview list. But the team is conducting a wide-ranging search. It is GM Ryan Poles‘ first true search, as Matt Eberflus was hired shortly after the GM was in 2022.

Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how Chicago’s search looks as of Monday: